Lörracher tour group celebrates friendship and oil ring competitions in Edirne

Lörracher tour group celebrates friendship and oil ring competitions in Edirne

Edirne, Türkei - The Lörracher Tour group led by Mayor Jörg Lutz visited Turkey from July 4th to 7th. This visit was on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the friendship with the twin town of Edirne and the 664th oil ring competitions that took place in Edirne. The tour group consisted of ten people, including Lutz and his wife Judith, Prof. Manfred Raupp, initiator of urban friends, as well as the Lörracher City Councilor Christiane Cyperrek and members of the Turkey AG from the Lörrach International e. V.

The Ölringer competitions, which have been recognized as an intangible UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010, are among the cultural highlights in Edirne, where men fight barefoot in traditional lederhosen. The patron of this traditional event, which has been taking place for 664 years, was Orhan Okulu, who won the title and the golden belt in the final fight. Around the competitions also take place with culinary delights and craftsmanship - a real joy for the senses!

conversations and visits to the institutions

The tour group had the opportunity to have talks with the Trakya University and other organizations for urban friends. The university, which counts around 40,000 students and 8,000 employees, was welcomed by Rector Mustafa Hatipler. In these discussions, the focus was on the exchange about scientific cooperation and planned activities.

In addition, visits to various institutions were on the program, including the tourism department of the city administration of Edirne, the Association of Edirner business people and the Chamber of Commerce. A visit to the disaster protection organization EDAK and the directorate for youth and sport in the province of Edirne were further highlights. A tour of the Center for Adult Education and the Edirne Stadtmuseum rounded off the extensive program.

Culinary delights and cultural treasures

Another highlight was the culinary experiences in which the tour group could enjoy traditional dishes such as fried liver and various desserts. Historical sights such as the Selimiye Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the old mosque of 1416 offered exciting insights into the rich history of Edirnes. The collaboration initiated by Mayor Jörg Lutz is intended to promote the exchange of young people in the future.

Lutz thanked the mayor of Edirne, Filiz Gencan Akin, for her hospitality and invited her to Lörrach to return. "We consolidated the partnership during our conversations and laid the basis for future projects," said Lutz. The content of this partnership is diverse. According to Deutschland.de, a total of around 6,500 city twinning are active in Germany, with many promoting cultural exchange and international understanding, just like in Lörrach and Edirne.

The encounters and experiences of the trip are not only an expression of friendship, but also proof of how city twinning can beat bridges between cultures. And that is ultimately the reason why Lörrach and Edirne are so closely connected.